JOYFUL IN HOPE
2022
Angelico Art Award
Exhibition
Acrylic on Canvas
457(W) x 914(H) mm
As Christians, we are called to live out our faith, to sanctify our daily work and give glory to God in everything that we do. The painting is a reflection of my daily interior struggles faced in my profession where we often become negative and lose the hope, joy and peace that we are called to live.
As I recall Jesus words when he sends out his disciples in pairs, “start off now, but remember I am sending you out like lambs among wolves” (LK10:3). I am blessed to have my wife in the same profession, to understand the struggles and torments facing the “wolves” in our work. Like a pair of lambs sent among wolves, we need to persevere in daily prayers, so as to keep our sight on the Lord with faith, to see His mighty hand in our lives. We are called to be lambs, to serve, to deny ourselves and to offer our daily sacrifices on the paten with our Lord.
Conversely, we are reminded that “wolves” are God’s creation. They are rightfully children of God, made in the image and likeness of God. The “wolves” carry out what they think is their right and purpose. At times, unknowingly or consciously, we become the “wolves” in our work, when we lose sight of God, and seek the recognition and self-glory from man, disregarding the dignity of our brothers and sisters.
The wolves’ stares at you and begs the question: Are you “food” or “family”?
In our daily interior struggles, we remember the prayers of psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (PS 23:1,4).
The Lord is ever present in our lives as our loving shepherd, all things will pass, but “His faithful love will endure” (PS 107:1). Through His Grace, may we keep our eyes faithfully on our shepherd’s hand, who will lead and point us to our eternal destination, and we shall remain joyful in hope on our pilgrim journey on earth.